16 Plus

We provide the following services:

Assessment and preparation for leaving care

• Providing information that young people need to make life choices

• Enabling young people to make informed choices

• Providing resources and support to explore available options

Transition to independence

• Making sure young people have the practical information to help their transition to adulthood

• Making sure young people have the emotional and practical resources to fulfill their plans

• Help young people build and strengthen existing community and family resources.

Aftercare

• Providing clear information about young people’s entitlements and rights

• Advising, assisting and befriending young people

• Providing continuing practical and emotional support to help young people achieve their full potential.

The way we try to help

• We will work in partnership with you and will be aware of your cultural, religious, racial and linguistic needs

• We will meet at your first review after your 15th birthday. The team will work with you until around 18 months after you have moved in your own accommodation. In terms of age this could be when you are around 19. But if continuing advice and support are needed then the team will work with you until you are 21

• If you start full time education, before you leave care, the team will continue to support you until you have finished

• We will encourage you to be able to live successfully and independently in your own accommodation

• One of the main aims of the team is to work with you as little as possible after you have acquired the skills to live independently

• The 16+ Service runs a duty service to make sure that advice and support are always available. We work on the basis that your experience of leaving care should be a smooth process and that it moves from being ‘looked after’ by Islington, to being placed in semi-independent accommodation, through to full independence

• The move to your own place will be a planned process from wherever you are placed

• Part of your preparation for independence may be a move to a semi-independent unit. This is where you live in a household with other young people sharing facilities but living independently and with minimum supervision. You will still receive support from your social worker and be working towards independence